FLINT, Michigan – A home-based daycare in Flint has joined the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation’s lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Human Services.

Michelle Berry, owner of the Berry Patch in Flint, is featured in this video for the foundation, which is accusing DHS of using Mott Community College to illegally form a union.

MCC is not named in the lawsuit.

Berry and other providers represented by the conservative law firm said they were surprised to learn that their state-subsidized checks, which cover day care for some low-income families, have union dues withheld even though they never voted for union membership.

“I was shocked,” Berry said in the video.

She said there are no monthly meetings or any benefits she has received from the union Child Care Providers Together.

“We have a deduction taken from a check and where that goes, I have no clue,” Berry said. “I think it’s wrong.”

DHS officials have said they don’t comment on pending litigation. In earlier interviews, MCC officials have said they were not aware of the role the firm says they played.

The agreement between MCC and DHS created quasi-public entity Michigan Home Based Child Care Council - which then contracted with the childcare union and transformed all 40,000 home-based daycare providers into union members.

Less than a fourth of the 40,000 daycare providers participated in the union drive in 2006 but the majority voted in favor of the union.